SAN JOSE, Calif. (TCN) — A 43-year-old man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in connection with the 2023 poisoning death of his mother.
According to KRON, 72-year-old Kathleen Dexter died of fentanyl poisoning on June 6, 2023. Her son, Bradley Dexter, lived with her at the time of her death. She reportedly told friends he threatened her multiple times, but she wanted to support him amid his drug addiction.
Bradley Dexter reportedly laced Kathleen Dexter’s oat milk with fentanyl two weeks before she died. She recovered at a hospital, but her son then laced her wine with the drug again, which proved fatal. Her death was ruled a homicide, per KRON.
Police suspected Dexter had poisoned her amid a dispute over an inheritance, but according to Dexter’s sister, Pamela Endsley, Dexter killed his mother for religious reasons and believed she was a sinner, per KRON.
According to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, Dexter was arrested in September 2023 in connection with his mother’s death. He had initially been questioned by police after allegedly beating his father with a baton.
Dexter’s father alleged his son beat him because he was on drugs and was angry because he did not understand his inheritance, WFXT reports.
Dexter pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison on Oct. 21, KRON reports.
In court, he apologized, according to KRON. He said, “I’m very sorry for what happened. Not a day goes by that I don’t regret my actions. I love my mom. If I could give up my own life to bring her back, I would. I’m not the person I was.” He told the court he was in the midst of a mental health crisis when he killed his mother, saying he was experiencing “severe psychosis” at the time.
Kathleen Dexter’s obituary describes her as an “adventurous spirit” who worked as a flight attendant for 43 years. It reads, “Kindness and compassion were the distinguishing characteristics of Kathy’s life, but, by far, her biggest joy in life for the past 18 years was being able to actively participate in the raising of her grandson.”
MORE:
